Construction of invalid&#39;s chair



y 1956 G. A. SILL 2,753,919

CONSTRUCTION OF INVALIDS CHAIR Filed May 7, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

y 1956 G. A. 511.1.

CONSTRUCTION OF INVALID'S CHAIR 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 7, 19 53 INVENTOR. 650/965 6. 6/. BY

y 1956 I G. A. s|| 2,753,919

CONSTRUCTION OF INVALID'S CHAIR Filed May 7, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 .J H 28 28 h INVENTOR. BY Gan/Pas H. 5

yiliifi a CONSTRUCTION or INVALIDS CHAIR Application May 7, 1953, Serial No. 353,539

4 Claims. (Cl. 155-30) My invention relates to improvements in the construction of invalids chairs.

My invention relates more particularly to improvements in self-propelled invalids chairs or similar devices.

One of the principal uses for wheel-chairs today, whether in the home, hospital or institution, is to furnish people incapable of walking with means for moving about without the attention or care of others. Many menial tasks both for themselves and for others can be accomplished by persons in wheel-chairs. These may include moving to the table to eat, moving to the bathroom or the bedroom to retire, or as now well known, to the gainful employment of the invalid in factories and ofiices. One of the most important factors in using a wheel-chair is the ability of the invalid to bring the chair to a rest position and hold it there while performing tasks or otherwise being occupied in a particular place. Naturally, the more easily the chair can be locked or frozen in the desired spot, the more desirable is the particular chair being used.

In a previously issued patent, No. 2,339,361, issued to George A. Sill and Herbert L. Thompson jointly on January 18, 1944, on improvements in Wheel Chairs, means were provided for locking the chair to the floor whenever desired through the mere process of having the occupant sit upright in the chair, thereby automatically locking or thrusting the foot rest against the floor. This was accomplished by means of a resilient or yielding connection between the axle of the support wheels of the chair and a smaller back support wheel, universally mounted to permit turning of the chair as desired.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved invalids chair capable of being locked to the floor when desired.

A further object of the invention is to provide a chair of this type which can be locked to the floor by the mere shifting of the weight of the occupant.

A further object of the invention is to provide a wheeled invalids chair of the type described which automatically locks the chair against movement by cooperation between the seat and the foot rest of the chair.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a chair of the type described a resilient mounting between the seat and the wheeled frame of the same, said mounting being sufiiciently strong and sturdy so that it cannot become broken or out of order even though the chair has long and hard usage.

Other objects and advantages will be more apparent from the following description wherein reference is had to the accompanying drawings, upon which Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of my improved construction of invalids chair;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view thereof taken generally on the lines 2-2 of Fig. 1 and showing the foot rest raised when the chair assumes the dotted line position shown;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view through the welded frame, seat and associated parts taken generally on the line 33 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan sectional view taken generally on the line 44 of Fig. 2.

In the embodiment of the invention which has been illlustrated, I have shown generally an invalids chair which may comprise a frame 10 formed of a pair of tubular side frame members 12 and 14 connected across the top by means of a cross rod 16 and a cross brace 18 that is bolted to the two side frame members 12 and 14 by bolt members 20 and 22. Each of the side frame members 12 and 14 have a back downwardly extending arm 24 terminating in a universally mounted bracket 26 which carries a roller or caster 28.

The forward end of each of the frame members 12 and 14 has a gooseneck portion 30 bent back and terminating in a short backward extension 32. An axle 34 is connected between the two frame members 12 and 14 to support the carriage wheels W upon the outside of the frame members 12 and 14.

The seat frame which supports the seat, back and footboard may include a pair of side seat frame members 36 and 38 having a cross-brace 40 below the seat 42. At their upper ends the side seat frame members 36 and 38 are fastened to a rigid back 44, the seat frame members having downwardly extending portions 46 and 48 which terminate in short forward extensions 50 and 52 and are fastened to a rigid foot board 56. The seat frame thus comprises the tubular side frame members 36 and 38, the back 44, the seat 42, and the footboard 56, all rigidly connected between the two side frame members 36 and 38 so that the entire thing is a unity and may be assembled as such for attachment to the wheeled carriage.

The seat frame assembly is adapted to be pivotally connected to the wheeled carriage by means of bolt members 60 and 62 which pivotally fasten the same upon a pair of brackets 64 and 66 fastened to the flat crossbar 18 of the wheeled carriage.

With this connection the seat assembly can thus tilt upon the wheeled carriage assembly on the pivot bolts 60 and 62.

I provide a yielding connection between the seat assembly and the wheeled carriage which normally holds the footboard 56 against the floor. This may include a generally V-shaped strap member 70 which is connected by means of screw members 72 and 74 to the side frame members 12 and 14 of the Wheeled carriage frame. I position a short rod member 76 over a screw 78 at the apex of the V-shaped strap, the rod member 76 having a reduced head to provide a seat for a coiled spring member 80 which is positioned at its upper end in a socket 82 fastened to the bottom surface of the seat 42. Both the rod 76, the spring 89 and a tubular insert 84 are positioned for guidance in a tubular member 86.

With this resilient or yielding connection between the Wheeled carriage frame and the bottom of the seat, it can be seen that the footboard 56 is normally pushed downwardly against the surface of the floor so that the wheeled carriage is locked or frozen in a stationary position. When, however, it is desired 'by an occupant of the chair to move about, by leaning back against the back rest 84 the occupants weight will compress the coiled spring 80 until the horizontal portion 90 of the chair side frame members 36 and 38 rest upon the flat horizontal portions of the wheeled carriage frame members 12 and 14 respectively.

From the foregoing description it can be seen that when it is desired to move the chair about, the occupant can lean back in the chair, thus shifting the center of gravity to raise the footboard from the floor so that he may freely wheel himself about. When, however, it is desired to stop and remain in a fixed position, the occupant can lean forward in the chair, the center of gravity will again shift forward, and the chair will be locked to the floor.

From the above and foregoing description, it can be seen that I have provided a comparatively simple yet highly etfective mechanism for permitting the occupant of the chair by merely shifting his weight, to either lock the chair to the door in a stationary position, or to permit the unlocking of the chair so that he may wheel himself about.

I contemplate that changes and modifications may be made in the exact details shown and I do not wish to be limited in any particular; rather what I desire to secure and protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. The combination with an invalids chair having a seat, back and arm rests of a wheeled carriage to support the same, said carriage including a framework consisting of two similar side frame members, a main axle journalled in said frame members, a pair of Wheels mounted on said axle and positioned upon opposite sides of said side frame members of said chair, a pair of smaller universally mounted wheels connected to the back ends of said side frame members, said seat having a pair of simi- -lar parallel downwardly extending support members, a horizontally disposed foot rest connected to the front of said support members and normally positioned resting on the floor, said seat pivotally mounted upon said framework and spring means mounted between said framework and said seat whereby the seat may be tilted rearwardly against the tension of said spring means so that the foot rest may be raised from the floor to permit moving about of said chair upon its wheels, said framework having cross-braces between its side frame members with said spring means positioned between said cross-braces, said spring means including a vertical tube supported by a V- strap connected between said side frame members and a spring connected to the bottom of said seat and telescoped into said tube.

2. An invalids chair comprising a seat, back and arm rests, a four-wheeled carriage to support the same, said carriage having a pair of large wheels on opposite sides of said chair, an axle therebetween, a pair of small universally mounted wheels connected to said carriage, one at the back of each of said large wheels, said seat pivotally mounted on said carriage and having downwardly extending supports at the front of the same, a horizontally disposed foot rest connected between said supports and normally resting against the fioor, and a resilient connection between said carriage and said seat so arranged that tilting movement of the seat raises the foot rest from the floor so that the chair may be moved about by the occupant, said resilient connection comprising a vertical tubular member mounted on said carriage and a coiled spring member attached to the bottom of said seat and telescoped into said tubular member.

3. An invalids chair comprising a seat, back and arm rests, a four-wheeled carriage to support the same, said carriage having a pair of similar spaced parallel side frame members, a pair of large wheels on opposite sides of said frame members, an axle mounted between said frame members, said wheels mounted on said axle, a pair of small universally mounted wheels connected to the back ends of said frame members, one at the back of each of said large wheels, said seat pivotally mounted on said carriage and having downwardly extending supports at the front of the same, a horizontally disposed foot res-t connected between said supports and normally resting against the floor, and a resilient connection between said carriage and said seat so arranged that tilting movement of the seat raises the foot rest from the floor so that the chair may be moved about by the occupant, said r'esilie'nt connection comprising a vertical tubular member mounted on said carriage and a coiled spring member attached to the bottom of said seat and telescoped into said tubular member.

4. The combination of a wheeled carriage which includes a framework having two spaced similar side frame members, a pair of cross braces rigidly joining said frame members adjacent their top end, a main axle journaled in said frame members, a pair of wheels mounted on said axle and positioned upon opposite sides of said side frame members, a pair of smaller universally mounted wheels connected to the back ends of said side frame members and a unitary structure pivotally mounted on said wheeled carriage, said structure including a pair of similar parallel side support members, a seat thereon and a back and arm rests connected thereto, a horizontally disposed foot rest connected to the front of said support members, and spring means positioned between said unit and said carriage for normally holding said foot rest in contact with the floor, said spring means comprising a coiled spring located below the bottom of said seat and disposed in a rigid tube fastened to said carriage and telescopically receiving said spring, said unitary structure capable of being tilted backwardly against said spring means to raise said foot rest from the floor.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,288,216 Sayles Dec. 17, 1918 1,327,864 Everingham Jan, 13,1920

2,182,915 Connolly Dec. 12,1939

2,427,161 Roe Sept. 9,1947 FOREIGN PATENTS 22,790 Great Britain 1899 

